Report: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar (inc. goal)
Today at 04:58 PM
Arsenal: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Trossard, Martinelli, Jesus, Havertz
Subs: Neto, Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Monlouis, Robinson, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji
Arsenal got back to winning ways after edging past Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to a first half own goal from Dmytro Riznyk.
Mikel Arteta made two changes to the team that lost against Bournemouth on Saturday, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus coming in for Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling.
More worringly, neither Jurrien Timber or Bukayo Saka were deemed fit enough for the matchday squad – hopefully this was sensible planning with Liverpool in mind instead of something more ominous.
It was a dominant start from Arsenal who had Shakhtar penned into their own box early on, and they should have been after five minutes when a (left footed) Leandro Trossard corner fell to Riccardo Calafiori who somehow blazed over from six yards.
Shakhtar did well to weather that early storm through and had an opportunity of their own after countering quickly, with Gabriel blocking a goalbound effort from Equinaldo who did well to evade William Saliba.
Trossard then had to quick sighters of goal, the first after lovely play from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz but skewed his half-volley wide, before attempting a near post flick after good work from Martinelli that again drifted just wide.
Just before the half hour mark – having been largely frustrated – Arsenal took the lead and there was more than a slice of fortune in the goal.
Martinelli found himself isolated against Shakhtar fullback Yukhym Konoplya and managed to wriggle inside after Calafiori’s overlapping run took the defender away for a split second, allowing him to smack a shot off the post which bobbled back in off goalkeeper Riznyk. 1-0.
The Gunners were close to doubling their lead when Jesus’ cut-back found Havertz in front of goal, but an incredible last ditch challenge from Mykola Matviyenko took the ball off his head for what would have been an easy tap in.
Jesus should have made it 2-0 before half time after some lovely play between Trossard and Havertz – the Brazilian did well initially to win the ball back and kickstart the chance – but hit his shot too close to the goalkeeper.
After the break, Mikel Merino was introduced for Ben White (who was booked in the first half) and Arsenal kept the pressure high with Trossard glancing a header just wide, before Martinelli saw another shot saved by Riznyk after Havertz whipped a dangerous ball across goal.
Keen to build on his efforts at Bournemouth, another sloppy backpass from Trossard played Arsenal into trouble again although thankfully for him, Equinaldo shot wide when he should have passed to his teammate Danylo Sikan.
Heading into the final quarter, the game fell totally flat and there was yet another injury concern moment when Calafiori went down after his right knee buckled beneath him and was swiftly replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
With 15 minutes to play, Arteta’s men had a chance to put the game beyond doubt after they were awarded a soft penalty following VAR intervention, when Valeriy Bondar was deemed to have handled Merino’s low cross.
Trossard stepped up from the spot and saw his lazy effort – straight down the middle – saved by Riznyk to compound what was a lacklustre second half performance from the hosts. PENALTY SAVED.
As the game lulled into injury time, David Raya was called into action to save Pedrinho’s long distance drive before coming to claim an important cross after Shakhtar applied late pressure.
After losing to Bournemouth, this was an important result for Arsenal but their second half performance should provide concern for Arteta who will have wanted this game to be more comfortable than it was.
With Liverpool travelling to N5 on Sunday, fingers will be crossed on Saka, Calafiori and White ahead of what looks like a pivotal game.
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